Why Kerala is God's Own Country

The southwest monsoon is almost over. It is green everywhere. The sun smiles again in 'God's Own Country' and it is time for Onam. There is festive cheer all around. This, I feel is the best time to pack your bags and head out to Kerala.

There is a smile on almost every person's face. To the older generation, it is perhaps the only time when the entire family comes together under the same roof. To the kids, it is time for gifts and outings. Every shopkeeper has a huge grin on his face and goes way out of his normal self to come up with 'Onam special discounts.' The general feel-good aura makes you happy too. And if you are a shopaholic, trust me, you will end up spending more on the 'typical' Kerala handicrafts than you thought you would.

Festivals in Kerala are colourful and vibrant. Onam season gives every traveller memories to take home. There is a rush of adrenalin with sports like snake boat races and tug-of-wars. Suddenly, around the bend, you can hear the beats of the drums and folk dances like the tiger dances and Kummati on the streets. There is beauty in symmetry with floral carpets adorning most houses, offices and street corners. The state-sponsored festivals and tourism promotion events showcase the best art forms and festivities. And for me, it is time to meet up with cousins who come home just for this season.

Ah! The Snake Boat races! Most of them are in and around Alappuzha (Alleppey) – well-connected by bus and train, but if you are planning to fly in, Ernakulam (Cochin) about 85kms away is your nearest spot. My colleague Clint Thomas has written about the Nehru Trophy boat race, the most popular one. If you are feeling bad you missed it, you could always catch some of the not so famous ones during this season. A local news paper or a chat with a chaiwala on the wayside is also a good way to know if there are races on schedule locally.

Ernakulam is one of the happening places this season. The commercial capital of the state becomes the shopping capital. Tripunithura just outside the city is a transformed place these ten days. The 'Athachamayam' festivities make this sleepy little town a hub of culture. The procession on the last day of the festival is spectacular (watch video). For those religion-oriented, the ancient Thrikkakkara temple on the outskirts of the city is a must visit. The temple has some unique traditions associated with the festival.

Flower carpets are a common sight across the state. In the good old days, when flowers were aplenty, each household used to compete with the neighbor's and come up with designs, in a battle for uniqueness.

No festival is complete without a spread of mouth-watering delicacies. Onam is not different – there is the traditional Onam sadya on offer. It brings out the best of the Malayali kitchen. The hotels copy the tradition with "packages" of native cuisine. And this may be the main reason why I am heading home. Or is it a bit of all of the above, I wonder. Anyway, my bags are packed and I am off to my hometown.

For many individuals, acne can be just more than an eyesore.It can cause embarrassment, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence.The good news is that there are remedies that will get rid of the acne. You can learn how to remove pimples safely and effectively.

Instead of removing pimples with chemicals, you can learn how to remove pimples using natural ingredients.Many of the ingredients will already be in your home.One method is to use a lemon.

Simply cut the lemon in two and rub directly onto your acne.Let the juice soak into the area as it will kill the bacteria that are present.Rinse off within an hour and you should see a great difference in the appearance of your acne.

Another great way to remove new acne is by using something that everyone has in their home, toothpaste.Gel toothpaste does not work as well as the paste style.The toothpaste ingredient, Triclosen, fights bacteria and will kill the pimple quickly.However, the downside is that it may cause skin irritation and it is not recommended by some because of this.

While many people try to squeeze pimples, they often do not do it correctly.Instead of popping out the core of the pimple, they drive the bacteria down further.Of course, this only makes the pimple larger and more infected.

To use this method, first open your pores using a hot washcloth on your face.Gently squeeze the area surrounding the pimple, pushing down to get underneath it and then up to squeeze out the core.Most important, close your pores by dabbing cold water on your face.

These are a few ways of how to remove pimples.Keep in mind, everyone is different and your skin may react in a different manner than someone else's.The important thing to realize is that your acne can be cleared up quickly.